Tane steals the show
by Lino Nelisi
Young Tane feels left out and unwanted when everyone else has something to practice for Uncle Kokela’s wedding on Saturday. He tries to join in with the big boys doing the meke, but they say he is too little. He tries to join in with the girls doing the hula, but they say he can’t because he is a boy. The men don’t want him drumming or playing the ukelele and the women don’t want him singing with them. Poor Tane watches them and learns anyway, and on Saturday he “steals the show” by getting up and performing with the boys, the girls, the men and the women at Uncle Kokela’s wedding. Everybody loves it and the illustrations show how proud Tane feels.
This story shows what it feels like to be small and overlooked – a theme which most children can relate to. It also provides insight into the roles and traditions in Pacific Island cultural celebrations.
This book was nominated because of its value as a Niuean resource, as well as the images presented in the illustrations. It was also nominated because of its popularity with children and its focus on Pacific Island music and dance. This book was shortlisted for Best Picture Book in the 1998 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards.
Please note that these activities are suggestions which have not yet been trialled. We welcome any feedback on how they play out in the classroom (see the feedback section).
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Activity 1: EXPLORING MUSIC AND DANCE IN PACIFIC ISLAND CULTURE (The Arts) |
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| Curriculum Level | 1 ,2 & 3 (see curriculum links at the end of the activity) |
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NZC Key Competencies |
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Activity |
In this story we read about some traditional Pacific island music and dance, and we see how it is used in celebration – at Uncle Kokela’s wedding. We also find out about traditional male / female roles in Pacific Island culture. Children will be interested to find out more about these, and some children will bring prior knowledge about these cultural practices, particularly those of Pacific Island descent themselves.
1. After reading, look through the story again and identify the 4 types of music and dance and establish whether it is male or female: meke: a traditional Fijian dance – can be male or female, however men and women may not perform it together hula (female):a dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele music made using drums and ukeleles (male) singing (female)
2. Ask the children if they have ever seen or participated in music and dancing like the ones we see in the story. Discuss. 3. Search online to find examples of the meke and the hula. Here are some good links on YouTube: The meke: The hula: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXtQNVXNu-A (also talks about the history of the hula) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydWVUn74zt0&feature=related After watching each video clip, stop and discuss the music and movements that are seen. Write them up somewhere for everyone to see, so you are creating a kind of “definition” of each dance. 4. Play through each clip again and encourage children to have a go at copying the movements they see. Use different kinds of drums to try and imitate the beats and rhythms they can hear. 5. You may be able to invite a member of the community to come and play or dance for the students. |
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Materials |
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| Taking it further |
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| Curriculum Links | The ArtsDance
Music
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| Applications for Level 4 and above | At higher levels, the emphasis could be on defining the elements of Pacific Island music and dance, and using these elements as the basis for their own music and dance compositions, with increasing complexity. |
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Links to other books in the PPBC |
Watercress Tuna and the children of Champion Street by Patricia GraceSelafina by Catherine Hannken
The Wooden Drum by Vivaliatama Elesoni Talagi – these books all have a focus on Pacific Island music and dance.
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Other Ideas |
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